Possible new MSFS Aircraft Design Program

[pete]

A guy has been communicating with me who is developing a new aircraft design program.

He has developed it from scratch & was wondering what I thought about the idea. He showed me some screenshots of it - the UI & some wing sections.

He's not sure yet about /freeware/payware or dual - lite(free) & pro (pay) versions .....

But this is no doubt in interesting possibility on the horizon. He's far from finished but he's agreed for me to allow a couple of developers to give it a run-through when it is a little further down the road ..

[Felix/FFDS]

I will graciously volunteer ....

[pete]

You are certainly one man I had in mind. ...  :)

[X_eidos2]

I wonder about the wisdom of starting from scratch. I would have thought it would have been a better use of resources and time to write plugins or scripts for the design programs that are already in wide use. A plugin for FSDS2 that could import and export DXF files would be very helpful. A Maxscript that would help one properly tag parts in Gmax would be a hugh help. I'd even pay money for one.

Even if this person developed the perfect plane making machine - I'd be relunctant to scrap all the stuff I've learned in the last 7 years when it comes to modeling 3d planes. And that's what I'd be doing if I tried to learn another UI right now.

[Katahu]

I believe it should be freeware for these reasons:

GMAX is freeware and because of that, it is slowly growing in popularity ever since FS2002pro came out.

Not only that, there appears to be a wider range of GMAX tutorials and GMAX-related websites than there are for FSDS.

So, if this new aircraft program is to become successful and big, it should be (I'm not saying it has to be) freeware.

It took me a surprising 3-YEARS to master GMAX (both old and new version).

And since a lot of people are now becoming used to the GMAX UI (or FSDS UI), I suggest that the UI be related to one of these now-known programs.

3DS Max is to GMAX as FSDS is to "I-don't-know".

But since FSDS is still a little more widley than GMAX, maybe the UI of the new program should be a little more related to FSDS.

I volunteer to test it out. And if it's better than it sounds, I will suggest payware.

[pete]

Gmax isn't (wasn't) freeware - it was built into the price

[Katahu]

Well, actually, GMAX has its own website www.discreet.com

There, everyone knows that you can download it for free (if you have time though).

Anyways, back to topic.

When can we try out the program as a beta test?

[Felix/FFDS]

K - gmax is "free".  but Unless you *bought* FS2002Pro, you cannot use it to make a model for FS2002.

The program is free - you just can't export it to flightsim - reliably - without having purchased FS2002.

(Maybe gmax doesn't come with FS2004, but the exporter does?)

Anyway, as far as the new program is concerned, I think we should hold off pressuring Pete.  As to when the program would go into closed beta would depend on the programmer...

Well, actually, GMAX has its own website www.discreet.com

There, everyone knows that you can download it for free (if you have time though).

Anyways, back to topic.

When can we try out the program as a beta test?

[Firestriker]

I wonder about the usefulness of another aircraft design program. There is a need for one area of the sim that has been pretty much neglected since FS98. What I am talking about is true dynamic scenery. Yes, we have had "Busy Objects" introduced, but unless you understand coding, your kinda up a creek. DOD, Dynamaker, Dynakit and FS Action Scenery are all antiques now and none have been updated to function in the newer operating environments and newer sims. Example: DOD v3 seems to have a problem dealing with FS2000 installed in its default location of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\FS2000 and functioning properly in the Win2k OS. While Rafael Garcia Sanchez's program, Nova v1.6 and promised NovaSim offer some exciting posibilities,  such as operating jetways, animated marshallers and opening hanger doors, the basic idea of true dynamic scenery does not seem to be addressed. Being able to take a 3d object from either FSDS or gWax and have it move along a path for a period longer than 34 seconds would truly liven things up.

Lou  

[BMan1113VR]

sounds very intresting

would very much appreciate it if you would keep us updated pete

[G-force237]

[quote]K - gmax is "free".

[Felix/FFDS]

One of the neat features in gmax is that you can customize the UI to your heart's delight.  I've heard that some ex-FSDS users modified their UI to assign favorite tools, features, etc., to "FSDS" key commands.  To each his own.

I've seen screen shots of other users that have set up the more frequently used tools, commands, modifiers to be no more that a click or keystroke away - if you use "convert to editable mesh" frequently, why not map it to "CTRL-SHIFT-M" or some such?

BTW a new UI would be some thing that would be cool to check out,

[G-force237]

Cool, I didn

[Felix/FFDS]

It's called the gmax "HELP" files - type in "keyboard shortcuts...


[quote]Cool, I didn

[G-force237]

Doh, Should of known ok thanks for your help, I